Feelin' Frosty with Claire!

Hi everyone!

Claire here, and I’m excited to be back with you sharing my first layout for 2022!

Today, I am using the fabulous January Main Kit featuring Simple Stories Feelin’ Frosty and some extra papers from Bella Boulevard and Photo Play Paper.

For this layout, I have chosen to explore the softer colours, mixed with black and white. It’s a simple but quite striking colour combination.

I started with the 12x12 Simple Stories pink polka dot paper called Snowy Days. I trimmed half an inch from the outside and lay this on top of a plain sheet of white 12x12 cardstock.

I loosely positioned my photo and cut the pink paper from the top and the bottom until it met the edges of the picture. I folded the paper back to reveal the black and white print on the reverse. I drew feint pencil lines just underneath the folds so that I could use it as a guide to see where the stencilling should go.

I put white structure paste through the stencil and left to dry. The stencil worked so well and left a really crisp image on the page, giving great texture. While I waited for it to dry, I pulled out any pink, grey or black and white embellishments to continue the monochromatic feel. I layered my photo on some pink and white tissue paper and black card from my stash. I also added an extra mat using the Photo Play paper, distressing the edges for more texture.

Once the texture paste was dry, I added the polka dot paper on top, revealing the stencilled

background underneath.

I positioned my photo layers on top and began to embellish. I cut two tags from the Feelin’ Frosty Tags paper and a snowflake from the Photo Play paper. I added thread to the tags and pearlescent white Nuvo Drops to the snowflake for extra interest.

I took the Warm and Cosy and Brrrr! Die cuts from the Embellishment Pack and added these around my photo. I also used the scarf embellishment, cutting this in half and adding it to either side of the photo cluster to make it look like one whole piece. I also added the black ‘baby It’s Cold Outside’ from the Sticker Sheet to as a subtitle.

For a bit of extra definition, once the photo layers were all in place, I added some watered down pink texture paste to create a shadow and add a little more depth. As a final touch, I added some snowflake stickers, some clusters of Nuvo Drops and also used this to draw a frosty border around the outside of the page. And that was the page complete!

It’s been quite a while since I have done a monochromatic layout and always love how they turn out. I find the soft pink against the black and white so striking and perfect for this cute photo. I hope it’s inspired you to create with this beautiful kit and look forward to seeing what you make.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Claire xx